The recent health-related deaths of notables including Prince, syndicated radio host Doug Banks and hip hop artists Phife Dawg (A Tribe Called Quest) and Prince Be (PM Dawn) continue to drive the conversation about African-American men and healthcare. “I think that’s a discussion that needs to take place all over America—definitely with Black people—and certainly with Black men,” says actor and comedian B.D. Freeman.

Freeman, a Racine, Wisconsin native, is a staple of VH1’s pop culture programs. Through appearances on several shows including “I Love the 2000s,” “100 Greatest Artists of All Time” and the popular “Black to the Future” series, he has cemented his place as one of the most recognizable faces on the network.

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While he kept television and comedy club audiences entertained with his hilarious take on pop culture and other issues, his health had eventually begun to take a toll on him and interfere with his career. “There’s no way to keep up with this schedule and have a personal life with the weight—there’s just no way to sustain it,” he says.

BlackDoctor.org caught up with Freeman (who has shed over 200 pounds) to talk about his health and fitness journey and why he sees his new lifestyle as his “rebirth.”